AGI Announces Improved Virtual Flight Test Solution for Radar Systems

Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), the producer of commercial Systems Tool Kit (STK) modeling, simulation and analysis software for the space, defense and intelligence communities, is pleased to announce a faster, more cost-effective solution for virtual flight testing of radar systems, developed in collaboration with Agilent Technologies, a leading creator of measurement tools and solutions.

Agilent’s SystemVue Electronic System-Level (ESL) design software models radar system signal generation, along with digital signal processing (DSP) and radio frequency (RF) processing. STK models aircraft profiles, flight dynamics and RF propagation. The co-simulation allows evaluation of radar acquisition, avoidance, interference and jamming in dynamic, “real-world” scenarios, providing users with more confidence when putting expensive hardware in the field and a reduction in flight tests, which can cost upward of $100,000 per hour.

“We are thrilled to be working with Agilent to enable end-to-end radar system simulation,” says Scott Light, AGI director, sales operations. “Being able to test multiple radar scenarios within your existing or proposed system, quickly and repeatedly, is a huge benefit to the electronic systems community.”

“Live flight testing of radar systems with real aircraft is extremely expensive and, due to changes in speed attitude, pilot awareness and sun angle, among others, the results are not repeatable,” said Daren McClearnon, segment lead for electronic system-level design at Agilent. “By working with AGI to link STK with SystemVue, many realistic flight testing scenarios can now be evaluated before or in place of physical flight testing, saving time and money.”